Staying above the Arctic Circle seems, well, cold. But up in the far north of Scandinavia, Lapland to be precise, cold-looking accommodations have become a hit. Ice hotels have recently gained popularity, scattered across the wintry north and boasting everything from a bar to beds made out of ice. For those travelers who want just a little more warmth, but don't want to skimp on the Lapland ambiance, there are glass igloos.
Sleeping in igloos has been happening for centuries, but it wasn't until recently that the technology for ones made from glass was developed. Just think: you can lie in the warmth of a heated igloo and, through the glass ceiling, watch the northern lights cover the sky above you in an array of colors.
Hotel Kakslauttanen in Saariselkä, Finland, 250 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, offers several glass igloos as part of its Igloo Village. Although you can opt to stay in one of the traditional snow igloos, there is probably nothing that compares to watching the northern sky from the comfort of your own bed; no more having to wrap yourself in a plethora of coats and scarves to go and stand in to outdoor cold. Made from a special thermo glass, the igloos maintain room temperature, and the properties of the glass also keep it from getting frosted over, even when the outdoor temperature drops to -30 C.
Before tucking into a glass igloo for the night, visitors at the Igloo Village can eat a meal in the Snow Restaurant, and take time for a drink, out of a cup made from ice of course, at the Snow Bar. In the morning, it's time for a traditional sauna and afterwards, to cool down, a dip in a nearby ice hole. I think it's time to pack those wool socks and hat and book a ticket to Lapland. AB
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